Adams Grove 03-Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes by Nancy Naigle Page B

“I’ll get the gentlemen.”
    “Great. I’m starved,” Jill said.
    When Carolanne opened the door to the meeting room in the new wing of the church, she and Jill both paused to take it all in.
    “It looks beautiful,” Carolanne remarked.
    Candle flames licked the air under glass globes, and the fine china and silver glistened in the candlelight.
    Soft music played and the smells coming from the kitchen seemed five-star for sure.
    Patsy Malloy led a parade of men and children into the room.
    “Patsy, you’ve outdone yourself,” Jill said.
    Carolanne stepped out of the way as Patsy slid into the chair next to Jill that she’d started to sit in herself. Carolanne maneuvered to the far side of the table and tugged Milly by the hand to sit on her other side to keep Connor from sitting there. She wasn’t ready to be that close to Connor in a nearly dark room.
    She caught the look on Connor’s face. He was clearly disappointed. Just as well. If he thought there was going to be anythinglong term between the two of them, then he was going to be disappointed eventually. She wasn’t going to put herself at risk for the kind of breakdown her daddy had had. It just wasn’t something she was willing to test. Distance was the best remedy for now.
    As everyone finished their dinner, Connor stood up and cleared his throat. “I know we said we weren’t going to do toasts and all that, but I do want us to raise a glass for Jill and Garrett.”
    Everyone lifted their glasses.
    “First, thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Malloy, for a wonderful dinner. Garrett, I’ve known you since grade school, and even then, you were pinky-swearing with Jill under the monkey bars. I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone in this town that the two of you are getting married. Love isn’t just about gazing into each other’s eyes day after day after day after day…”
    Everyone laughed, and Connor continued. “Well, you get the idea. Real love is about looking outward together, toward your dreams, and working together to make them come true. You two are doing that.”
    Connor glanced in Carolanne’s direction.
    A flicker of apprehension coursed through her, and Connor’s mouth pulled into a sly smile, like he could tell what effect he had on her.
    He then nodded to Jill and Garrett. “I can only hope to have as lovely, graceful, and smart a woman as you do by my side someday. May your good luck rub off on us all. Salut. ”
    Garrett raised his glass. “Guess I know who’ll be diving for the garter tomorrow!”
    Jill raised her glass toward Carolanne and gave her a nod.
    Carolanne wished her glass had been filled with something other than water—something that would knock her out. What is this? A conspiracy?
    Everyone pushed back from the table, and Mrs. Markham whisked in to clear the dishes.
    “Mrs. Markham, you outdid yourself. This was an amazing meal,” Jill said. “Thank you so much.”
    Franny Markham beamed. “It was my pleasure, Jill. I appreciate y’all letting me live out my little fantasy of being a caterer. It was as fun as I thought it would be.”
    Carolanne said, “This was as nice as the five-star restaurants in New York City.”
    Everyone chimed in with appreciation, and the hugs and good-byes ensued with a flurry of excitement about the big day tomorrow.
    Carolanne couldn’t wait to get home and crawl into bed. She went straight to her car and slid behind the steering wheel, but just as she went to close the door, Connor stiff-armed it. He stepped between the door and her seat, filling the space.
    “Not even going to say good night?”
    “We did,” she said.
    “I mean you—to me.”
    “Good night, Connor.”
    He stooped down. “Are you mad at me? You’ve barely said a word to me all night.”
    Please. You don’t know why I’m upset? Fine. We’ll play games. “Why would I be mad at you?”
    Connor lolled his head back. “Oh no, you don’t. Don’t turn that back around on me.”
    “Fine. Then don’t